Here's What's New & Black AF On Netflix This April
Sh*t has officially gotten real, ladies and gentlemen. Outside has been canceled until further notice and we are really in this bih.
In light of recent events, we've been confined to our respective spaces and asked to practice extreme social distancing. But instead of letting worry and anxiety consume you, pour up a glass of wine and consume this Black AF content that's coming to a streaming service near you.
From old school classics like Lethal Weapon and School Daze to new Netflix originals like #blackAF and Coffee + Kareem, here's what's new on Netflix this April:
School Daze (April 1)
School Daze
Netflix is throwing us all the way back to 1988 with this Spike Lee-directed coming of age story that paints a vivid portrait of HBCUs that will put your nostalgia in full-throttle. Starring Larry Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tisha Campbell-Martin, this old school classic will have you in your living room feeling melanated AF.
Cadillac Records (April 1)
Cadillac Records
The year is 1942. Beyonce is Etta James and everything is right with the world.
In this 2008 NAACP award-winning autobiographical drama, we see Queen Bey star alongside Mos Def and Columbus Short in a film that tells the untold stories of Chi-town music legends, Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James, and Chuck Berry.
Lethal Weapon 1-4 (April 1)
Lethal Weapon
Before Bad Boys, Rush Hour, and Training Day, there was Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, a dynamic duo who has been kicking ass and taking names since 1987. More than 30 years after this action-packed buddy cop action comedy film was originally released in theaters, the entire Lethal Weapon franchise is making its way to the streaming platform on April 1st.
Nailed It!: Season 4 (April 1)
In this time of chaos and the Coronavirus, we have to laugh to keep from panicking and Nicole Byers and her squad of home bakers fighting for their shot at $10,000 are back for Season 4 of Nailed It! to help us do exactly that.
The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions (April 1)
The Matrix
Morpheus asked Neo if we wanted the red or the blue pill and judging from how this pandemic is looking, I'd suggest he take both for good measure. Featuring Keanu Reeves and Lawrence Fishbourne, this classic trilogy is available to stream April 1st.
Soul Plane (April 1)
Soul Plane
We might be on lockdown, but that won't stop us from getting high AF and enjoying a ride aboard the 2004 comedy classic, Soul Plane. With an all-star cast of entertainers like Mo'Nique, Kevin Hart, Method Man, Snoop Dogg, Loni Love, and D.L. Hughley, this film is sure to give you the belly laugh you didn't know you needed.
Community: Seasons 1-6 (April 1)
Community
Rapping, singing, acting––Is there anything that Donald Glover can't do? But before his entertainment career took fire, the comedian tried his luck as a community college student. Before the premiere of his popular FX series, Atlanta, Childish Gambino had a lead role on the quirky NBC sitcom, Community, and you can stream the entire series April 1st.
Lovebirds (April 3)
Lovebirds
The Coronavirus shut down movie theaters and dashed our dreams of seeing Issa Rae get her swirl on in her latest rom-com, Lovebirds, but Netflix knew our hearts. In lieu of the movie's canceled premiere date, the film will be available for streaming on April 3rd.
Coffee + Kareem (April 3)
I didn't know that I needed to see Taraji P. Henson and that guy from The Office in a fictional on-screen relationship but it's here and I can't unsee it. A film about a 12-year-old who isn't here for his mom's new police-officer boyfriend, Coffee + Kareem is jam-packed with action, comedy, and a whole lot of ass-kicking.
#blackAF (April 17)
The Office… but make it #blackAF.
In the newest sitcom by Kenya Barris, we see the screenwriter star in #blackAF, a mockumentary-style series starring Rashida Jones and featuring cameos by Issa Rae, Tyler Perry, and Nia Long, that is loosely based on his reality.
Cooked With Cannabis (April 20)
Netflix
Nothing eases the soul like some home-cooked comfort food and there's nothing more comfortable than sitting back on your couch and binge-watching a show about cannabis-infused cuisine. Hosted by Kelis and Leather Storrs, this 6-episode features 18 home cannabis cooks who aren't going home without their piece of the pie.
Django Unchained (April 25)
Django
I'm not ashamed to say that I've seen this pre-ScandalKerry Washington-led film a thousand times and thanks to Netflix, I'll have the opportunity to watch it 1,000 more. 8 years after this Quentin Tarantino-directed film debuted in theaters, Django: Unchained will be available to stream April 25th.
Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story (April 29)
Netflix
Netflix has lowkey been hitting it out the park with their documentaries lately, and we hope that Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story keeps that same energy.
Featured image by School Daze.
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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My name is Yasmine Jameelah, and I’m a founder, journalist, freelance writer, and dog mama. Wellness is at the intersection of everything that I do.
Six years ago, I started a small wellness community on Instagram after embarking on a healing journey in my mid-twenties that I documented via a blog where I wrote about healing, therapy, celibacy, and growth after what felt like years of chaos. Six years later, that wellness community has blossomed into one of the largest online wellness platforms for Black women called Transparent Black Girl which has a reach of over five million Black women.
It still sounds crazy to say that aloud, to know that a 24-year-old girl planted the seeds of the life that this 30-year-old woman gets to live now.
While I was growing my company, because my love for writing was so strong, I went back to school and obtained my master's in journalism. I’ve worked as a freelance writer, an editor, and a frequent contributor to publications that I respect greatly, xoNecole being one of them! My journalism career has been a reflection of my passion and heart for wellness and the culture. My day-to-day is busy, but we manage to get it done, and on the days that I can’t, I give myself grace to do what I can with the time that I have.
My days consist of events, long walks with my dog, freelance pitching, and deciding what content creation and events will look like for my wellness collective, Transparent & Black.
Now, follow me on a random day in my life.
Morning
5:00 a.m.
My Goldendoodle keeps me on a schedule, so every morning, like clockwork, he wakes me up to use the bathroom and eat breakfast, at 5 a.m.! Am I usually over it first thing in the morning? 100%, but his being on a schedule challenges me to stick with mine and start the day on a productive note. He’s a wellness dog which means I feed him home-cooked meals and give him supplements daily to support his health, and he has a daily dental treat to keep his teeth healthy. Canine dental hygiene is imperative for a long life and a good smelling breath!
Today, I’m heading into the city, and I’ll be there almost all day, so when I’m gone that long, I take him to doggy daycare.
7:00 a.m.
Doggy daycare drop-off is filled with tons of barks, and my dog is practically jumping out of the car with excitement to see his friends. Now, some of y’all might be thinking, doggy daycare, sis, that’s too much for a dog! But it’s not, socialization is key for dogs, and so is keeping my house intact when I’m gone for long periods of time. Does he go daily? No, we aren’t rich (yet, we gotta manifest!), but when my dog is happy and experiencing play, and I’m happy attending events, I feel accomplished.
Having a pet is a serious responsibility, and I pride myself on knowing that I am invested in his mental and emotional health by encouraging his socialization with his friends.
7:30 a.m.
Headed to my local coffee shop to grab my go-to order. Iced coffee, a single shot of espresso, half and half, and 3 pumps of agave. Winter, spring, summer, fall, I am an iced coffee girl. I love it, especially after a workout where I’ve broken a sweat - nothing about having hot coffee after I’ve been sweating for over an hour feels good to me.
8:00 a.m.
Back home listening to Carlos King's commentary on YouTube in the shower (what can I say, commentary on reality TV drama relaxes me, don’t judge!) and prepping for the first stop on the agenda for today which is an event in the city. Without traffic, I’m about a 25-minute drive to Manhattan but it’s rush hour, so that 25 minutes is about 55 which means I have to head out soon so that I can arrive on time.
Courtesy
9:00 a.m.
Headed to Manhattan for a Black History Month event with Meta, Peloton, and We The Culture. I wanted to take the train, but I ran out of time, so I hopped in an Uber because I didn’t want to be late, and I had my daily check-in with my best friend while I rode in the Uber. We talk daily and have since our early twenties to check in with each other. I'm grateful that while many aspects of my life have changed, this is still a constant. As we age, prioritizing our friendships for sure gets harder, but it’s not impossible in the least bit when both parties are invested.
9:30 a.m.
Emailing my editor from the car to ask for a deadline extension and sharing with her my ideas for pieces for the month! I’m grateful to have been on both sides of the journalism space. I’ve been a managing editor for years for publications, and I’ve also had the honor to work with managing editors, deputy editors, and editors-in-chief who have poured into me and understood how quickly my schedule can change, I’m honored at the magic we’re able to create together.
As a storyteller, from content that I share to my platform to pieces that I write, I’m having fun again in this season of my life, and I am loving it.
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10:00 a.m.
The event begins, and I can’t lie, when I host my own events, I’m not scared, but as a social anxiety girlie, events sometimes can be a little scary. I am naturally a very shy girl, but wellness events always feel like home to me. You don’t have to dress up; you can show up in workout gear because most of the time you’re experiencing some form of wellness and fitness even during the event. Moments into the panel discussion we experienced a seated meditation led by Peloton instructor Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts - talk about a way to kick the day off!
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The discussion hosted by Meta and Peleton touched on the importance of taking up space in industries and spaces where Black women and people are underrepresented, our self-care regimens, and We The Culture also shared how their work came to be. It was such a powerful event, and of course, we got the inside scoop on Peloton’s newest machines! I also spoke with some people (it’s important to me to always say hello to those who put on the event) and ended up sitting next to THE Pilates girl herself, Raven Ross. She was such a sweetheart, and we talked about our love for Pilates and the importance of community events like this.
Afternoon
2:00 p.m.
Leaving the event, I headed to Sephora to see if I could find Topicals' always sold-out Slick Salve, but to no avail, so I pulled out my phone and ordered it on their website as I walked back to the train station to head back home. I am a girl who loves to walk, so I’m always down for a long walk to the station and a walk back home when time permits, so that’s exactly what I did. I did about four miles just between walking back to Penn Station and walking back to my apartment once I got off the train!
4:30 p.m.
My phone started blowing up because the piece that Oprah Daily asked me to write was published for Black History Month, and my face was on Oprah’s website, AOL’s homepage, and the publication's Instagram page! My mama, aunties, cousins, dad, and everyone who has known me since I was a little girl were beyond proud and excited to see that and how far I’ve come.
Courtesy
Evening / Night
Courtesy
5:30 p.m.
I headed to my gym in my home (praise the Lord for apartment amenities) for a quick swim before I picked up my dog from daycare, and then I headed to the sauna and ran into a neighbor who is another successful Black woman killing it in her own right in the tech space. We chatted about life updates and the importance of taking time for our mental health and it felt good to ground myself with swimming. Much of my life has changed in the past few years, but swimming has remained a constant.
Whenever something amazing happens I soak it in and then immediately do what I can to ground myself to stay present, humble, grateful, and focused on what’s ahead.
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6:30 p.m.
It started raining badly and my anxiety is all over the place on the drive to pick up my dog but I practice some deep breathing and remind myself that I have had a calm day and it can end calm as well. I don’t need to rush there, I can drive at a pace that feels good to me. My mother calls to check on me because she sees the weather is terrible and asks me to let her know when I arrive safely.
7:00 p.m.
I arrived at doggy daycare, and the rain is calming down. Can y’all see why I take him?! They watch him all day! My dog is exhausted in the best way and ready to go home and sleep, and I can sit down and relax when we head back home.
9:00 p.m.
I’m back home, took a bath, ordered my favorite healthy Chinese takeout (beef and shrimp with broccoli, light sauce with brown rice), and I’m on the couch with a glass of sustainable wine from one of my favorite Black-owned brands, House of Brown watching Sistaswith a side of kimchi to enjoy with dinner. My candles are lit, I’m letting the highs of the day sit with me and stillness come over me as I prepare for bed.
10:30 p.m.
I took my dog out for a final walk, gave him his bedtime treat, and it’s lights out to prepare for another day.
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Featured image by courtesy